Doina and David Chiacu

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) –The U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell stated Tuesday that Republicans largely supported President Joe Biden’s actions towards Russia regarding its invasion of Ukraine. However, lawmakers are having trouble reaching an agreement on Kyiv aid.

I believe there is broad support for President Obama’s actions now. We are most disappointed in his slow response. McConnell stated this at a press conference, after Biden’s administration increased sanctions on Russia and its central banks.

This might have helped deter aggression from the beginning. However, all of us are united in support for the Ukrainian people. We are thrilled by the NATO changes, and I believe I have seen our country quite united. McConnell stated that the world appears to be united in fact.

The White House seeks $6.4 billion from Congress to provide humanitarian and security assistance for Ukraine. The funding will be included in an Omnibus Spending Bill that the House of Representatives is expected to vote next week.

McConnell stated that talks are stalled over Ukraine’s defense section of the aid package. He said Democrats want to finance it from the same defense spending levels as before the invasion.

McConnell stated to reporters that McConnell was not planning on doing that, and added that emergency situations should require a different process.

“We’ve hit a snag,” he said.

McConnell joined a chorus calling for Biden’s imposition of sanctions on Moscow before Russian troops invaded Ukraine last Wednesday. This was in the hopes of stopping aggression from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Others Republicans continue to criticize Biden’s leadership. They have also used the Ukraine crisis as an opportunity to promote long-standing Republican policies, including reducing environmental regulations and increasing fossil fuel production.